Arsenal’s season ended yesterday with a 4-0 win over undermanned Fulham.
It was a disappointing season for Gunners fans, especially as the season started so well in and Arsenal were scoring goals left and right with van Persie and Fabregas leading the team. The season for me turned when van Persie got injured playing for Holland. Arsenal were never able to replace his goals and playmaking ability.
I thought that Wenger’s comments after the game were interesting:
“We have gone beyond expectation, if you look at July, but of course we are still frustrated, because one month ago we were in touch with the championship, but did not win it. Overall we had a season with a good attitude and strong character, the team has improved a lot on that front, but overall we conceded too many goals to win the championship. We did not have the players available in the last six weeks to fight for the championship. When you go into the final sprint, you need your squad available. We had too many injuries.”
We have gone beyond expectation? Really? Yes Arsenal went from 4th to 3rd in the Premier League but went out much earlier in the Champions League. I don’t think this is a season that exceeded expectations. Do you?
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Get rid of Sagna. He is the weakest link on the back 4.
I think what he meant to say is: We have gone beyond the expactation of the media and the critics.
Nope.
We were below the required standard. Our expectations at the beginning of the season was the WIN the prem.
We finished 3rd, barely. We were far bellow expectation.
Championship teams have ATLEAST 7+ DOMINANT WORLD CLASS players in their starting XI. 2 world class strikers/attacker, 2 world class mid fielders, 2 world class defenders, 1 world class keeper.
Arsenal have: 2 world class striker/attacker, 1 world class midfielder, potentially 2 world class, 0 world class keepers.
On the safe side, Arsenal have 4 WORLD CLASS PLAYERS- VanP, Arshavin, Fabregas, Vermaelan. To me this shows we are ATLEAST 3 players away from competing as a championship teams.
Arsenal have lots of fringe world class players (Song, Clichy, Sagna, Nasri,Gallas), but definitely not a championship teams first choice players.
So we will always fall below expectations, which is to WIN cups and be the best, until we make these changes.
Watch out next season is going to be a REAL battle, unless we make some changes.
Edit*** ….1 world class midfielder, 1 World class defender, 0 world class keepers.
“Although they clinched the Carling Cup in February, it rounded off a disappointing season for Ferguson, with United failing to make a third consecutive European final after a quarter-final exit to Bayern in April.” (Soccernet.com)
Even a Carling cup win is a disappoint as it is really worth NOTHING. So Manure dont care about it.
Arsenal MORE than welcome a carling cup as an example of being successful and improving.
Now that is the difference between the expectations of CHAMPIONS and those of Arsenal.
World Class VanP, Arshavin, Fabregas, Vermaelan
Potential or nearly there Nasri,Walcot,Clichy,Sagna and Vela
Avarage Song,Ed,Rosicky
Not ArsenalClass Diaby,Denilson,Almunia,Bentner
Rubbish Eboue,Silvestre
Solution add 4 more world class players Goalkeeper,Centre Back,Holding Midfield,Striker
Starting 11 next year
New World Class Goalie
Sagna New World Class CB Vermalin Clichy
Nasri Fab new world class HM Arshavin
RVP New world class striker
Sagna??
He is the root of too many goals against. Positioning is all wrong with him. Talent is average.
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